Eric Stoltz

One of cinema's most prolific actors and a favorite of independent filmmakers, Eric Stoltz is a witty, charming, intelligent redhead whose versatility has resulted in a decidedly eclectic body of work...
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Universal/Everett Collection
Casting is one of the most important and mysterious parts of filmmaking. Not only are actors selected based on their chemistry, skill, and buzz, there is also a whole mess of behind-the-scenes coordination. Actors have missed out on major career-defining roles for all sorts of reasons. Iconic roles like Indiana Jones, Wolverine, and Marty McFly all had different original actors. Careers, film history, and even a major celebrity marriage have all been forever altered by casting changes. Some actors have missed out on A-list careers. Here are a few of the most shocking movie casting changes.
GALLERY: Shocking Movie Roles That Were Recast
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Character actor Dennis Burkley, who made a name for himself playing burly bikers and truckers on TV and in movies, has died at the age of 67. He passed away in his sleep at his home in Sherman Oaks, California on Sunday (14Jul13) after a battle will ill health, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Van Nuys, he received his master's degree in theatre at Texas Christian University in Forth Worth, Texas before pursing an acting career and landing his first gig in Arnold Schwarzenegger's Stay Hungry after meeting director Bob Rafelson while working as a pool boy.
He was perhaps best known as the voice of Principal Carl Moss on animated hit TV series King of the Hill and the giant mute biker who befriended Eric Stoltz in 1985 film Mask.
His other credits include stints in popular shows Hill Street Blues, Heroes, Hollywood Homicide, Wanted: Dead or Alive, JAG, The Drew Carey Show and My Name is Earl.
He also appeared in films like No Way Out, Who’s That Girl, Fletch Lives and The Doors, and co-wrote and directed a 2005 independent film, called Repetition.

When it was announced that writer/director Lynne Ramsey was joining forces with Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman on the Western Jane Got a Gun, the project sounded like stars aligning. It got better: cast opposite of the Black Swan star was the reliable, mesmerizing Michael Fassbender. As the film trekked forward towards the beginning of its shoot, it continued to gain prestigious additions, including a villain in the form of Zero Dark Thirty's Joel Edgerton. It sounded incredible.
And then it imploded.
Last week, Fassbender departed the film, a mere week before cameras were set to begin rolling. He was quickly replaced by Edgerton, who bumped up to the starring role opposite Portman, with Jude Law jumping on board as the film's villain (Edgerton's original role). Then on May 19 — what was going to be the first day of shooting — news broke that Ramsey had left the project, never arriving to set. With money invested, sets built, and production as underway as it could be without a person in the director's chair, producers on Jane Got a Gunscrambled to find a replacement. The ship wasn't going down, even if the captain had bailed.
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Now the hopeful upswing in the debacle: in less than 24 hours, a replacement for Ramsey has been found. Deadline reports that Warrior director Gavin O'Connor has been hired to helm the picture. There have been casualties by the switch: after O'Connor was revealed to be on board, Law was announced to have left the film, his involvement originally linked to the idea of working with Ramsay. But Edgerton and Portman (a producer on the female revenge flick) are still on board.
This isn't the first time a high-profile movie has suffered from talent shuffling — but it might be the instance closest to the wire. In 2010, after two years of working on both the scripts and designs for The Hobbit movies, director Guillermo Del Toro picked up and left New Zealand, paving the way for last December's Peter Jackson-helmed epic. Del Toro has never explained his decision, suggesting that multiple factors influenced his decision to exit the movie — many pointed to MGM's ongoing financial issues. In less analytical departures, X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn was two weeks away from directing 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand before bailing on the film due to creative clashes with 20th Century Fox. For some, having their vision represented is more important than avoiding a public frenzy.
Sometimes it's not even up to the directors. Steven Soderbergh was removed from his version of Moneyball days before shooting the Brad Pitt-led baseball drama. It was another case of the men with the money not seeing eye to eye with their director's vision: Soderbergh wanted a docudrama version of Moneyball that would intercut Pitt's performance with documentary footage. The idea didn't jive with Sony Pictures, who replaced Soderbergh with Bennett Miller.
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Ramsey penned the script for Jane Got a Gun, and it's possible that, even when the dust settles from the fiasco, she'll walk away with accolades for the film. The same thing happened to director Brenda Chapman, removed from the director's chair by Pixar halfway through her work on Brave. She ended up receiving a "co-director" credit — a title that earned her an Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 2013 Academy Awards.
As is apparent from Jane's bumpy road to completion, actors are also capable of derailing a movie and sending behind-the-scenes players scrambling for replacements. Jean Claude Van Damme was set to play the title creature in Predator before ditching the movie last minute. He wasn't keen on the requirements of the role, which included wearing a bulky costume and remaining invisible for half the film. Eric Stoltz was infamously replaced by Michael J. Fox weeks into shooting Back to the Future after Fox (the original choice for the role) became available. And most recently, Peter Jackson, unhappy with actor Stuart Townsend's work as Aragon in Lord of the Rings, kindly asked the thespian to step down, eventually hiring Viggo Mortensen for the part.
On-set shuffling isn't a common occurrence in Hollywood, but it's not a sign of disaster either. A film can go both ways: X-Men: The Last Stand, helmed by back-up director Brett Ratner, is looked down upon as a low point in the franchise. Moneyball went on to earn a handful of Oscar nominations. O'Connor is a competent director who impressed (and earned box office cred) with Warrior. Having most recently directed the pilot for The Americans, he knows a thing or two about stepping into someone else's sandbox and building a great castle. If Jane Got a Gun was going to be strong with Ramsey in the driver's seat, it was going to be strong for a number of reasons beyond her directorial efforts (although it sounded promising in the hands of the visually-inclined auteur). Is Jane destined for disaster? Only if they never roll camera.
Which, if the set spontaneously combusts in an act of Godly smiting, could very well be the case.
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
[Photo Credit: Evan Agostini/AP Photo]
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Although we'll always think of Harrison Ford when we think of Indiana Jones, Keanue Reeves when we picture Neo, and Michael J. Fox when we reminisce about the adventures of Marty McFly, it's funny to acknowledge that these parts — as with many now-iconic movie characters — came very close to landing other actors entirely. Indy could have been Tom Selleck, Neo could have been Will Smith, McFly could have been Eric Stoltz. And the latest to be revealed in this line of alternate timelines is that which nearly embraced Cameron Crowe's classic romance, Jerry Maguire. On Wednesday, Nashville and Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton revealed to The New York Times that she was almost given Renee Zellweger's role.
Britton explains that director Crowe sent her the script back during production on the movie. "So I took it home and I read it," she says. "I was blown away. I loved the script, the role — I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is incredible.’"
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Having yet to really break out into show business, Britton was passionate about earning the role of Dorothy Boyd. She says, "And I walked into my brand-new agent’s office the next day, and I put the script down on his desk, and I was like, ‘I have two words for you: Jerry Maguire.’”
And while Britton's screen test may have brought her very close to starring opposite Tom Cruise in the oft-quoted film, she explains that there was one minor issue: “they just want to screen-test one other actress.” And that, of course, was Zellweger. “It was heartbreak,” Britton says.
So what gave Zellweger the edge over the indelibly talented Tami Taylor to be? Britton speculates: "Maybe I was too tall." After all, at around 5'8", Britton would have had an inch or two on her potential costar Cruise (a dealbreaker in the Hollywood world). Zellweger, at only 5'4", would fit more snugly into a frame opposite Mr. Maguire.
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But we can't be too displeased with the fate we were dealt: in the absence of Jerry Maguire, Britton kicked off a long, much adored television career — 1996 placed her in the pithy sitcom Spin City, which she would eventually follow with occasional appearances on 24 and her beloved starring spot on Friday Night Lights. And now, following her haunting turn on American Horror Story, the world is treated to weekly doses of Britton on ABC's Nashville.
So we can't be too remiss about the actress' missing out on Jerry Maguire. You may not have snagged this role, Britton, but with everything you've done since, we can still sincerely profess: you complete us.
Follow Michael Arbeiter on Twitter @MichaelArbeiter.
[Photo Credit: TriStar Pictures; Ivan Nikolov/Wenn]

The No Country for Old Men star admits he got too wrapped up in the idea that the character he was trying out for was half man-half fly.
He tells Men's Journal magazine he fell to the ground and started spitting all over the room, prompting his agent to call him immediately after the try-out.
He recalls, "He said, 'What did you do?' I said, 'What do you mean, what did I do? In the part, the guy's coming out of a cocoon. He's transmogrifying.'
"(My agent said), 'Well, they were really afraid. I mean, they were scared.'"
The role eventually went to Eric Stoltz.

Glee has been reaching for a handful of pretty big name guest stars lately. Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Pitbull, Chewbacca... but this one tops the lot of them: Helen Mirren—the Helen Mirren—will contribute her talents to Fox's musical series. But here's the catch: Mirren will not exactly be appearing on Glee. Instead, she'll be providing her voice alone to the show. Mirren's "character" will be the inner voice to one of Glee's regulars.
Whether this is along the lines of a helpful Jiminy Cricket conscience or a demonic The Shining homage is yet to be seen, as is which character will be aided/tortured by Mirren's presence in his or her mind. But if I had to guess, I'd say the breakout basket case that is Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) will be the character injected with this classy dose of internal narration.
According to recurring Glee director Eric Stoltz, his friend/former collaborator Mirren was an easy sell for the role: she is a big fan of the show, and was more than willing to lend her voice for the part.
Mirren will be heard on the first episode of the midseason, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. Source: TVLine

"It was terrible because I had already done a movie... called The Wild Life with Eric, so he was already a really good friend of mine. It was awful... Eric is an amazing actor... but he wasn't right for the part." Actress Lea Thompson on pal Eric Stoltz missing out on the Back to The Future lead to Michael J. Fox.

The Canadian star has come a long way since he sealed his place in pop culture with his role as time-travelling Marty McFly in Back To The Future and his career has gone on to span more than five decades.
Fox started as a child actor on TV and later became a poster boy for the 1980s with a role in hit show Family Ties, as well as his star turn in the time-travel franchise and parts in popular movies such as 1985's Teen Wolf.
He turned back to TV in the 1990s with a lengthy stint on hit sitcom Spin City, before bowing out to spend more time with his family following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. He has become an active campaigner for other sufferers in recent years and been lauded for his extensive charity work.
To mark his landmark birthday and celebrate his stellar achievements, WENN has gone back in time to dig up 10 fascinating facts about the fantastic Mr. Fox.
- Fox was not the first Marty McFly in Back To The Future - Eric Stoltz was originally cast in the role, but was replaced by Fox after four weeks of filming at the request of director Robert Zemeckis
- In his early career, Fox landed a role in longrunning TV show Family Ties which had originally been ear-marked for Matthew Broderick, who was unavailable
- Fox met his future wife, actress Tracy Pollan, while working on Family Ties. They married in 1988
- The actor is father to four children, Sam, 22, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 16, and Esme, nine
- He has released three books telling his life story - Lucky Man: A Memoir (2002), Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010)
- The high school he attended in British Columbia has a theatre named after him
- He won a Grammy Award last year (10) in the Best Spoken Word Album category for his audio book, Always Looking Up: Adventures of An Incurable Optimist
- Fox's list of awards include five Emmys, four Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Last month (May11) he became an Officer of the Order of Canada for his charity work.

The actress attended a Hughes film class at the University of Southern California last week (ends29Apr11) and let slip that the stars of the two movies weren't necessarily her mentor's first choice.
She told students her break-out role in Hughes' Sixteen Candles cost John and Joan Cusack leading roles in The Breakfast Club - the siblings were slated to play bad boy Bender and outcast Allison in the school detention movie, but studio bosses wanted to shoot Sixteen Candles first, and the Cusacks were forced to bow out of the project.
According to EW.com, Ringwald explained, "Universal said 'We want to do this one first. We feel like it's much more commercial', which I think is funny because, well, I love Sixteen Candles, but I think Breakfast Club is a more interesting screenplay."
The actress feels Hughes never settled with the eventual choice of 'method actor' Judd Nelson as Bender - and their relationship was frosty at times, particularly when Nelson goaded her in rehearsals.
She said, "In my head, he was doing an acting thing. It didn't bother me but it bothered John a lot... I don't remember specifics about what he said, but he made some crack about Stevie Wonder and my father is blind. All of the sudden I turned and looked at John and his face was like stone.
"The rehearsal ended early and all of a sudden it blew up. I don't know what happened, but I'd heard he told Judd he was ready to put him on a plane."
Ringwald also revealed Rick Moranis was the first choice to play janitor Carl, but studio heads persuaded Hughes to use John Kapelos instead: "He decided it would be funnier if the janitor was a Russian immigrant.
"He (Moranis) came and filmed for two days, and Rick Moranis was hilarious, but it just did not belong in this movie at all."
And even Jon Cryer's iconic role as Phil 'Duckie' Dale in Pretty in Pink wasn't set in stone as pre-production on the 1980s film got underway - Michael J. Fox and Robert Downey, Jr. were both in the mix to play the character.
Fox dropped out to replace Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future and Ringwald admitted she had a lot of fun with Downey, Jr.
She recalled, "I remember Robert came in with a jacket decorated with Pez dispensers. He was just so funny and charming and charismatic, and we had this sort of sexual charisma together."

The Syfy network show, starring Eric Stoltz, debuted in America in January (10) and returned to the small screen this month (Oct10) after a mid-season hiatus.
But fans will now have to wait until next year (11) to see the final five episodes of season one - TV bosses have axed the series with immediate effect amid declining viewing figures.
Syfy network spokesman Mark Stern says, "We appreciate all the support that fans have shown for Caprica and are very proud of the producers, cast, writers and the rest of the amazing team that has been committed to this fine series. Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, Caprica has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season."
The last few episodes will be broadcast in the first quarter of 2011.

Had recurring role as a teacher on the ABC drama series "Once and Again"; also directed episodes

Played piano for a local theater group in Santa Barbara (date approximate)

Reteamed with Caton-Jones for "Rob Roy"

Headed the ensemble of "Sleep With Me", also scripted by Hedden

Appeared in Roger Hedden's directorial debut, "Hi-Life"; had also acted in two films scripted by Hedden, "Bodies, Rest & Motion" and "Sleep With Me" (1994)

TV-movie debut, "The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank" (CBS)

Appeared in "Happy Hour" (lensed 2001)

Moved to American Samoa with family at age three (date approximate)

Appeared on broadway in the production of "Sly Fox"

Cast in the thriller "The Butterfly Effect," starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart

Played a tabloid reporter in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries "Triangle" (lensed 2005)

Off-Broadway debut, "The Widow Claire" by Horton Foote

TV series debut as a regular playing a doctor specializing in alternative medicine in "Chicago Hope" (CBS)

Acted in Crowe's "Singles" playing an aggressive mime artist; first film with then-significant other Bridget Fonda

Reteamed with Crowe for the blockbuster "Jerry Maguire", playing Ethan Vahlere

Second role that required lots of make-up, "The Fly II"

Switched to acting (date approximate)

Portrayed lawyer Lawrence Seldon in "The House of Mirth", Terence Davies' adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel

Cast as a military attorney representing a female captain accused of murder in the Showtime original "One Kill"

Portrayed Vahlere in Crowe's "Say Anything"; also served as production assistant

Starred in "Some Kind of Wonderful", written and produced by John Hughes

Broadway debut, "Our Town"; received Tony nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Play for his turn as George Gibbs

First film with director Noah Baumbach, "Kicking and Screaming"

Film debut, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", playing one of the Stoner Buds (with Anthony Edwards); first association with Cameron Crowe who scripted

Earned a large paycheck for the big-budget "Anaconda"

First film with director Michael Caton-Jones, "Memphis Belle"

Made first big impression as a sensitive boy disfugured by a rare disease in "Mask"

Returned to Los Angeles after running out of money in Edinburgh

Director Robert Zemeckis replaced him unceremoniously with Michael J Fox after five weeks of shooting on "Back to the Future", charitably saying later "I found myself with a very good actor playing the wrong part"

Executive produced and starred in Baumbach's "Mr. Jealousy"; reunited with "Mask" director Peter Bogdanovich who acted in the film; also acted in "Highball" (lensed 1997), filmed three weeks after "Mr. Jealousy" with much of the same cast and crew

Starred with Felicity Huffman in the Showtime drama "Out of Order"

Joined an American repertory company which performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland; performed in "Tobacco Road", "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "Working"

Summary

One of cinema's most prolific actors and a favorite of independent filmmakers, Eric Stoltz is a witty, charming, intelligent redhead whose versatility has resulted in a decidedly eclectic body of work. His good looks have won him a fair share of leading man parts, but he has also frequently rejected the wholesome image to access his dark side, playing some angry and downright scuzzy types. "I'm not a career builder," he has admitted. "I've never plotted out how to become a 'marketable persona.'" What he has become is a first-rate actor, one who makes time for stage roles and counts having to turn down a chance to act opposite Julie Harris in a Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie" as one of his major career disappointments. (He did finally portray Tom Wingfield in a Williamstown Theater Festival version of the Tennessee Williams' classic.) Though many of his projects do not afford him a big pay day, he works often enough in big studio releases to subsidize his passion for plays and indies and the rewards they bring.

Education

Name

University of Southern California

San Marcus High School

Notes

Stoltz received the Indie Support Award at the 1998 Los Angeles Film Festival.

On his love for independent films: "They're like stray dogs. They need much more attention and care, but ultimately reward you with fierce loyalty and a fascinating, off-kilter personality. And sometimes fleas." --Stoltz to Vanity Fair, April 1994.

"Sometimes I'll do a film because the character interests me, or I just want to work with the director. Sometimes I need the money. And sometimes I just want to get out of town. 'Rob Roy', I ran into the director at a coffee shop, and he asked me if I wanted to come to Scotland with him to make this movie, and I said sure. I hadn't read the script yet. Thank God it's a really good script, or I'd be sunk." --Eric Stoltz, quoted in Daily News, August 24, 1994.